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Richard throws sim game en route to Triple-A start

Padres' pitcher on DL has colonoscopy after battling intestinal virus

5/4/13: Padres manager Bud Black discusses Clayton Richard's inability to throw a strike when he needed to get out of jams

By Corey Brock
/
MLB.com |

ST. PETERSBURG -- Clayton Richard threw a 40-pitch simulated game before the Padres faced the Rays at Tropicana Field on Saturday.

Richard, on the 15-day disabled list since Sunday with an intestinal virus, did not show many signs of rust amid his heaviest workload since May 4, his last start.

"It went well," Richard said. "I took it like a game day -- got here early and went about it like I was preparing for a start."

San Diego manager Bud Black was encouraged as well, so much so that the team decided to send Richard on a Minor League rehabilitation assignment Thursday, when he will start for Triple-A Tucson on the road in Des Moines, Iowa.

"Going into the sim game, after two side sessions with [pitching coach Darren Balsley], the goal was to get his arm slot a little higher," Black said. "To get him back up on top of the ball, to get a better angle. Today, he repeated the arm slot, and the ball had good action."

As for the intestinal virus, Richard had a colonoscopy in San Diego on Friday and rejoined the Padres prior to Saturday's game against the Rays.

"I feel good," Richard said, adding that the doctors had "an idea what it might be. It's nothing serious, but it's something I might have to deal with in the future. The flu set off possibly something else."

Richard was slowed by a nasty virus for more than two weeks. He was 0-3 with a 13.09 in three starts while he tried to fight off the virus, which caused him to lose 12 pounds. Overall, Richard is 0-4 with an 8.54 ERA in six starts.